VANQUISHED A FIERCE EAGLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

VANQUISHED A FIERCE EAGLE.

A BRAVE WOMAN.

Mrs. John Hkndkix, of Gulf Summit), Broome County, N.Y., a village nine miles east of Susquehanna, is considered the pluckiest woman in that quarter.

For a month the farmers about thore had suffered from the incursions of a monster American or mountain eagle, which bad wintered in their neighbourhood and lived upon their poultry. The other Sunday, while Mrs. Hendrix was alone in the houso, the eagle, which had become a familiar object, was circling about the poultry yard. A little chanticleer, which was no match for its antagonist, had mado a gallant fight. With one swift stroke the oagle placed the little cock lion de combat.

Just then an avenger, Mrs. Hendrix, appeared upon the scene, armed with a billet of wood. She struck at the eagle, which at once attacked her furiously with beak and talon?, cutting a furrow in her face and tearing her dross. The woman retreated bo the houso.and arming horsolf with a hatchet, returned to the yard and found the eagle preparing to fly away with the now dead rooster. Mrs. Hendrix made a fass at the eagle, which resumed the fight. n u deft, quick movement, she struck the bird full in the neck with the blade of the hatchet and the battle royal was over. Screaming, the eagle died, its head being nearly severed and its blood covering Mrs. Hendrix, who, womanlike, swooned. Sonic neighbours who were passing found her lying in the yard a few feet from the dead eagle. She soon recovered consciousness. She had the doad eagle, a disfigured face and a tottered dress as souvenirs of the battle. The eagle, whioh measured six feet from tip to tip and weighed thirty pounds, has been, placed in the hands of a taxidermist, and when mounted will be presented to a Grand Army post in Deposit. The farmers of Gulf Summit promise to giro to Mrs. Hendrix a handsome silk dross.